Obesity epidemic
A study, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, finds that FTO alters the level of the hunger hormones, ghrelin and also makes junk food more tempting. Reuters

Doctors in Britain have launched a campaign to tackle increasing levels of obesity prevalent in the country. This includes surgeons, psychiatrists, paediatricians and almost every sections of the medical stream.

The Academy of Royal Medical Colleges (AoMRC), which is the organisation that represent each doctor in the country, has introduced a three-month inquiry program to look for research and strategies that can be of help in preventing or reducing obesity and the junk food problem in the country.

The Academy will reportedly look into various measures such as financial, education and clinical intervention.

Obesity rates have increased drastically in the last 25 years in Britain and it is one of the major health concerns in the country. As per reports, almost a quarter of adults in the UK are thought to be obese and some predictions suggest half of children will be obese or overweight by 2020.

The current campaign will be headed by Professor Terence Stephenson, vice-chairman of the AoMRC and president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

"Our starting point is the collective desire to ensure the health care profession is doing all it can to detect, treat, manage - and ultimately prevent - obesity," the Independent UK quoted Stephenson saying.

"It is unprecedented that the medical royal colleges and faculties have come together on such a high-profile public health issue. But we've done so because we recognise the huge crisis waiting to happen and believe that current strategies to reduce obesity are failing to have a significant impact," he mentioned further.

The campaign will reportedly look at the action individuals can take and will also look into the impact of advertising and sponsorship. They are demanding a ban on McDonalds' advertising at major sporting events like the Olympics and want the government to consider bringing in a 'fat tax' on unhealthy food products.

The report, which will be published later this year, will offer recommendations for how the medical profession, individuals, organisations and the government can help reduce obesity levels.